Month: June 2019

If someone arrived on the world scene today, claiming to control the elements, heal people of their illnesses and to even raise some people from the dead, what would you think of that person? I know that I would have many doubts and would be completely skeptical.

I’d think that they were either a magician or guided by Satan. In addition to that, I would question whether or not the “miracles” they claimed were photo shopped or somehow edited or even done with a graphics package.

That’s the type of world we live in today. People are always portraying themselves to be one way when, in fact, they are quite different. You may find yourself full of admiration for someone and then find out that your feelings have been placed improperly because they are not telling the truth and had used devious ways to show things as they were truly not.

I wonder if that is one of the reasons Jesus arrived on the scene when he did. No one could accuse him of doing a fake graphics portrayal of a miracle that was being filmed.

On the other hand, many Jews of his day did question whether he was a charlatan or even a demon. No one could fathom that God himself would come to the earth in such a humble fashion.

Even those who followed him had their own opinions of what the Messiah would do. They thought that he would overthrow the Roman rulers, then them out of Israel and then take over the kingdom as their king. At times, they were actually frightened of the power that they saw Jesus wield. Notwithstanding those times, they continued to think in terms of earthly things because, at that time, they were solely earth-based beings.

It wasn’t as if Jesus could not have done what they expected; however, that would only have saved the Jewish people of that time from the tyranny of the Romans. It would not have given them to heal the breech with God and be given a way to heaven.

It wasn’t until after Jesus died, rose from the dead and ascended to heaven that the Holy Spirit came to live in the hearts of men and women who accepted and believed in Jesus as God. At that time, those individuals became dual-citizens. They were not only earth dwellers they were also, spiritually, citizens of heaven. At that time, their eyes opened and they could see the world from a heavenly standpoint.

Things that seemed impossible before became, in fact, something that Christ followers actively prayed for. Salvation for others? Safety from tumultuous weather and other natural catastrophes? Healing for those would were sick in body, mind or spirit? Even raising someone from the dead was suddenly something they could ask for and receive.

Have you ever had something happen in your life that changed your entire perspective of the world and of yourself forever? That happened for me the night that I accepted Jesus as my Savior.

I remember, the next morning, I got up and felt a lightness in my heart that I had not had since I was a small child. I think it was that the unbearable weight of my sins were gone and I simply felt like dancing in joy. What a weirdo!

I probably did dance myself into work and even moved to an inside beat in my head throughout that day. The job I had at that time, as a waitress, was grueling and something that usually left me tired and unhappy by the end of the day.

From that day forward, I was still tired (who wouldn’t be after spending hours on your feet?) However, I wasn’t carrying the same weight of unhappiness. Sure, I still could get upset and carry those issues home with me. However, the “I just can’t live this way” feeling was pretty much gone for good.

I say pretty much because, over the years, during the times I was out of step with God’s plan for me, I would get that same sort of feeling. However, I didn’t feel crushed completely. When the things of the world came down on my shoulders, I lifted the burden to God and asked him to help carry the weight for me. He has always answered this prayer.

While it didn’t mean anything in the world changed, it meant that something inside of me changed and allowed the problems to be seen for what they really were. For Christ-followers, the problems of this world are a blip in time. We know that we are bound for heaven and that the things that we experience here are to help us grow.

Even when I find myself filled with doubt. I mean, why would God bother with something so insignificant? When I reach out to him, I find that he has been waiting with his arms stretched out to pick me up and set me straight again.

For that reason, I still find myself dancing a bit as I walk every day. It drives my physical therapist a little crazy as I go lightly bouncing along. I think that dancing for God is like dancing in the sunshine. How can you not want to dance as the Son shines down from heaven onto the earth?

In the end, I know that Jesus came just at the right time, the first time he came to this earth as a human. I also know that he will come back to earth again to keep us from destroying one another completely.

I would like to live to see that day but, then again, I will be plenty happy to arrive in heaven and live there forever whenever God decides to call me home. While, in my human form, I would like to see Jesus coming in Glory, I stop and realize that I will see that event no matter what.

To be honest, I can hardly wait for that day. However, there are still people out there who are waiting to hear the story of salvation. How God sent his son Jesus to this earth to live a sinless life. Jesus willingly gave up his life to repair the broken connection between God and mankind. All a person has to do is accept Jesus as their savior who took away the punishment they deserve for their sins, then ask God to help them live the way he wants them to do.

If you want to be in heaven along with me, please consider accepting Jesus as your savior. Then start living a life where the troubles of this world feel lighter and where your focus will be on God.

Matthew 8:23-27

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

There are so many things in life that can distract you from what you really should be doing. Sometimes, the things that take the most time and consume more of your thoughts and emotions are things that are not really good for you.

I have been guilty of overloading my days and still looking for more and more to do. It is like spending quiet time is somehow something that I unconsciously dread. What is weird, though, is when I do find time to simply sit and think (or simply to stop and breathe), I enjoy that time the most.

Perhaps it is the work ethic that was instilled in me by my parents. They would both work all day, come home and tend to five children and then do the work that needed to be done at home. If they took any time off, it was perhaps one evening a week.

I stopped working outside the house almost twenty years ago. In that time, I have run three businesses and then also had my time consumed by various other hobbies and crafts that filled my days to the brink. I stopped working in order to relax and find myself again after my son passed away but instead, I found myself working longer and harder than I had ever done before.

I wonder how many other people do the same? They look for things to keep their days full and, in doing so, like me, never find the time to stop and talk with God.

In recent months, I’ve found my ability to work has decreased. More than that, my desire to fill my days with needless tasks and hobbies has waned. What I am now doing, is asking for God to give me guidance on what he wants me to do.

A lot of that is spending time with him. In doing so, I am beginning to learn more about the heart of God and what is important to him.

Just this last weekend, our pastor challenged us to look at our lives and find areas where we were spending time and money but which were not bringing forth fruit for the kingdom of God. I was immediately convicted of an area in my life that was just that.

He used the analogy of the fig tree that Jesus cursed. It had green leaves but no fruit. It should have had fruit when it was in leaf but no fruit made it useless.

What it reminded me of was when I was gardening and I used my favorite organic fertilizer on the wrong type of plant. I got leaves galore but no fruit. It took me a while to find out that either I should use a different fertilizer or grow different plants.

In the case of my life, the fertilizer is my time, effort, thoughts and money. The plant I was using these on were important to the world but not to God’s plan. For a long while, in my heart, I knew there were things I needed to walk away from so that I could focus on those things in my life that I needed to nurture and grow. I simply did not want to make the changes I needed to make.

Having finally made my decision, I let the people who follow me in this area know that I would be ceasing immediately. I thought that people might not be happy but, surprisingly, the comments I have received, so far, have been loving and encouraging.

I know that will not always be the case when people stop providing their resources to others. The world wants us to pay more attention to their wants and needs than to do what God has called us to do.

Still, we need to cut those lines. It can be hard when we have made friends in those areas. For me, a number of my friends are there and, I’m fairly certain, most will prove to be fair weather friends. Once I have stopped providing the service I have in the past, they will simply move on to someone else.

That’s okay. I’d rather meet new people who are like minded and who want to serve God as I do. I think more than anything, this switch in friends might be the hardest part for many to deal with.

The thing to remember is that a friend who is there just for what you provide, really is not a friend at all. A friend is someone who is there for you as much as you are for them.

So, as my pastor did for me, I now challenge you to look at your life and find areas where you are spending time and resources and which are not bringing good spiritual fruit into your life. This is not to say that all hobbies are bad. I am still keeping several that I really enjoy.

The pastor asked us to pray and ask God to reveal the area that we needed to prune out. I had barely closed my eyes and streaming across my conscience was the thing I needed to stop. I expect that God will give you the same knowledge. The thing you have to do is listen and be willing to do as he asks.

It’s hard but it is the right thing to do. I know that by getting rid of something that takes up so much time, I am freeing myself to be able to do what God has in store for me next. I’m sure that he will do the same for you. All you have to do is ask him.

John 15:1-8

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

People seem ever more hateful these days. There are so many more public venues available for us to spend our time spreading horrible things about one another.

I don’t think that people are worse now than they were in the past, it’s just that society now accepts us being awful to one another. They may rail against bullying in some cases but, at the same time, they will willingly verbally crucify anyone who believes or does other than what they believe or do.

I know that I have had evil and mean thoughts about other people my whole life long. For the most part, I kept it inside and, I suspect, everyone else did the same. Because of our sin nature, we are inclined to be unhappy with other people. Even those whom we love, especially when they don’t measure up to the bars of behavior that we have set for them.

It’s even worse when it is someone who is different than we are. Perhaps because of where they are from or perhaps because of their lifestyle, it doesn’t seem to matter. In any case, they will never be what we want them to be because they are their own person and not a cookie cutter version of what we think others should be.

Truth is, as unhappy as we are about others, we are even more unhappy with ourselves. It’s strange that we vilify others but generally keep quiet about our own sins and weaknesses. It’s much easier to point out the errors of others than to admit, out loud, where we fail to measure up.

So, we have it in us, and always have, to take issue with our brothers and sisters on this planet. It’s just that in today’s world, we have access to places where we can quickly put our thoughts to words and to spread them across the whole planet in the blink of an eye or, more importantly, having second thoughts about what we are doing.

I learned early on that, in this new technological age, putting unkind thoughts into writing can cause those words to live on forever. At the end of a work email, I wrote something unkind (but actually true) about a co-worker to another co-worker. He didn’t read the full message and, of course, he forwarded the email to others, including the individual I wrote about.

I was never able to live that down. It was somehow fitting that for a brief period of a year, that individual became someone who had input into my annual review and potential raises. She made sure that I knew that she had never forgiven me. I knew what was going on and realized that I deserved it. Not the poor review, but her retaliation for what I had done.

I certainly never put anything like that in writing again. I also realized, at that time, not to even talk about co-workers again. It was a good lesson at a fairly young age.

I don’t express my thoughts in writing too often, other than specific opinions about a product or a book when I am writing a review. That is, other than what I write about on this blog. I write here what God puts on my heart and that is to love one another.

We are to love each other no matter how different we are from one another. We are to love those who don’t love us. I try to follow that as best as I can. Still, we’re all people and we all still have those hateful thoughts about others from time to time.

In many ways, I wish that we were back in a time when our behavior was more modulated and that, on the surface at least, we were more accepting and less hateful about one another.

As Christians, the world shows a lot of hate our way. They talk about how hateful and unaccepting we are and how we are all a bunch of hypocrites. Our pastor has talked about this in the past. He told us that we need to work to change the perception that the world has of the church and of Christians in general. That while they still hate us, we love them. It is the right thing to do.

What he hasn’t mentioned is that no matter what we do, the world will always hate us. The Bible tells us that this is what will happen. That hate will continue to grow to the point at which the rest of the world will come together to rid themselves of Christians and, in so doing, rid themselves of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As we are saying something the world does not want to hear, that they are sinners who need a savior (just like us), they will always hate us. Perhaps a few will learn to accept us. Fewer still will join us.

When we are no longer a thorn in their side, the world will turn on each other. They will try to kill anyone who is different. If God himself doesn’t step in to stop it, they will destroy the entire world.

That is what hate breeds. It breeds destruction. Love breeds acceptance and peaceful life with one another. As Christians, we are called to ignore our sin nature and, instead, to do what Jesus told us to do. We are to love everyone, no matter if they love us or hate us. We are to do good to others whether they do good or evil to us in return.

It isn’t easy for us to ignore what comes natural to humans but it is the right way to live. In a world filled with hate, we are called to be the one spark of true love for all people. If Jesus could love us so much he gave up his life to save us, his call for us to love one another is easy in comparison.

Matthew 5:43-48

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

People spend their whole lives striving to become rich. They think that if only they have enough money, they can buy their way to a peaceful life filled with happiness. They think that money is power and that power is what will make things easier. They think that money can change their life and the lives of their families for the better.

While it is true that money is something that people use for paying for shelter, food and clothing, it is not true that it can bring happiness. It can pay bills. It can buy the things that you and your family may need. However, it is not what will fill your life with contentment and keep the troubles of the world at bay.

People have often mistaken a verse of the Bible. The condemn individuals that have wealth by their use of this verse. They will tell you that the Bible says that money is the root of all evil. What the verse actually says is that the LOVE of money is a root of many kinds of evil.

It is the love and adoration of money and what it can provide that is the problem. Money, in and of itself, is neutral. God does not condemn money. Being rich is not evil just as being poor is not a blessing in and of itself.

It is the way that you look at your condition that makes the difference. God tells us to be content right where we are. He placed where we are for a reason. Whether we are rich or we are poor, we are to look to God and not to the world to provide contentment and happiness in our spirit.

There are rich people who spend their lives giving to others. There are poor people who give from what little they have. It may be their time or their prayers if there is simply no money to be given. Both ways of giving are pleasing to God. He gave to us and he wants us to give to others.

There are, though, rich people who are working to make even more money as a way to find peace in their souls. They think that with more and more money and more and more power, they will be able to buy or bully their way to the pinnacle that they have chosen. They love money and what it brings them and they more of it. They will do whatever is necessary to achieve their ends.

There are poor people who spend their time trying to figure out get rich quick schemes. They want to buy their way into leisure and happiness. From where they stand, during struggle after struggle, being rich looks pretty good.

I can understand this feeling. I’ve been poor, too, in this life. The funny thing is that I never realized that my family was poor. I knew that we didn’t have the fancy things that others had but it didn’t bother me too much. For the short time my mother was on welfare instead of working (due to health issues), it didn’t trouble me as I knew that that type of short term assistance was a good thing and allowed us to see the doctor when we were ill.

Until high school, that is. At that time, even though she was, by then, working in a fairly well paid job for the time, my mother decided that two shirts, one pair of pants and a pair of flimsy sandals was enough for me. In order to have more clothes, proper shoes, coat and clothes for gym class, I had to work to earn the money to buy them. So I did.

When I was out of school is when this all hit me hard. I started buying more and more clothes and more and more things that I really didn’t require. It became an obsession that lasted for years. I ended up buying way too much for my children.

It took a serious wake up call to bring me to my senses. These days, I don’t spend money at the drop of a hat. I ponder purchases and how I will use them. If the item makes sense, I will buy it. If it is merely a want and not something that I need, I don’t buy it.

I’ve started businesses and used my earnings for discretionary spending. That was a buzzword for spending as much as I wanted on anything that caught my eye. These days, I fight the desire to start businesses as I don’t feel that is what God is calling me to do. That is the world speaking to me. It says that unless I am trying to earn lots of money, I’m fairly worthless.

Good thing I’ve learned not to listen to the world. The world is controlled by a liar and he lies and lies. His first lie was to Eve in the Garden of Eden and he continues to lie to each of us every day.

When God calls us to his service, sometimes he bestows riches. He says that those who are given much are expected to give more.

For some people, this attitude of giving rather than making money is too much to handle. For some, it is a reason why they can’t follow Jesus. They love money too much and giving control of it to God is more than they can accept.

There are also those who say they are Christians, even pastors, who use their position as a way to fill their own coffers. They build fancy churches and even fancier houses. Some are more truthfully called estates or compounds with multiple acres than simply a home.

They are unwilling to share, even in the face of disaster. I’ve heard of one such pastor who said he didn’t share his church sanctuary with people in a disaster because no one asked.

Really? A Christian should not have to be asked. They should be ready immediately to help their neighbor. If my pastor had done something of this nature, I would expect the elders to admonish him and if that didn’t happen, I would leave that church.

Rich or poor, we have something to share with the world. If nothing else, we can share the gospel of Jesus Christ and his unbelievable gift of salvation that was purchased through his sacrifice. When you think about what Jesus gave to the world and what he went through, giving some time or money is a pretty easy request to fulfill.

It’s time we stop loving money and, instead, love God and each other. Money will never give you a good life filled with contentment and happiness. It will certainly never give you a way into heaven.

Luke 18: 18-27

A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”

“All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

Who knows the mind of God? Not me, that’s for sure. I don’t understand the way this whole creation thing works. It seems like we could have all been made perfect and never fall from grace with sin. Then everything would be rainbows and lollipops forever and ever, amen.

Okay, I know that doesn’t work either. That would mean that we would not have been given a free will, a free mind, and the ability to choose our own destiny.

Isn’t it funny, that when Adam had perfection right in his own two hands, he still wasn’t satisfied. He wanted more. While he didn’t understand the mind of God anymore than we do today, he somehow thought that if only he could be like God, that things would be even better.

Better than perfection? Yeah, it takes mankind to have such a crazy thought. We come up with good things, new innovations and then, almost immediately, come up with some sick and twisted way to use that innovation for evil.

That is the way that man has thought ever since he first exercised free will and chose sin. I wonder if later that day, Adam wished he had never done so. I know that when I sin, there comes that sick feeling in my mind and spirit that wishes I could undo what I’ve done. Sadly, there really is no going back. Even with forgiveness, we still reap what we’ve sown.

Even if no one ever finds out what we did, what we thought, or what we planned… we still know. It preys on our mind and our soul. It’s like we relive that sin (and even elaborate on it) over and over and over again.
God knows what is happening. All those times we think about unrepentant sin, we are sinning multiple times. For Christians, each sin is something that moves us out of fellowship with God. We don’t lose our salvation but we do lose out ability to communicate with God for a time.

All you have to do to re-establish that link is to confess your sin to God and honestly and wholeheartedly ask for forgiveness and be willing to do what God wants you to do with your life. Sometimes, just the confession is enough but other times, God will want you to apologize to the individual(s) you have sinned against.

You may not think it is a big thing to be out of fellowship with God, but I will guarantee that there comes a time of reckoning. Things can start going crazy. Your life can start coming apart and, when you cry out to God, he does hear you but he can’t stop you from the troubles you have brought on yourself.

Some people think that when Christians sin, they lose their salvation. Some even think that Christians must do good works to continue to earn salvation even after they have accepted Jesus Christ’s free gift of pardon from sin.

Neither is the case. When Jesus hung on the cross and, just before he voluntarily gave up his spirit and died, he cried out “It is Finished.” And it was. And it still is. And so it will be forever.

He saw all of our sins and forgave and died for each and every one of them. That includes sins of those who become Christians, both before and after they received their gift of salvation.

There is no need for more. You can’t add to the great gift that Jesus gave to mankind. You can’t earn anything more than his gift. If more were needed, then why in the world would God himself come to the earth as a lowly man, born as a weak baby and live through the same troubles and struggles of life that we go through?

It took Jesus and only Jesus to save us from our sins. When the thieves hung on the cross next to Jesus, he said to one that he would be in heaven with him THAT day. He didn’t ask him to get down from the cross and witness to people. He didn’t ask him to go and do good works. He didn’t even tell him to stop thinking evil thoughts (which he must of continued to do because, after all, he was a sinner like the rest of us.)

What Jesus said was as you believe in me, you are with me and will be with me forever. God would not require more from anyone else for salvation. God sees us all as equal. We are all his creation. He loves us all equally.

He wants us to accept Jesus’ gift of salvation and to live with him in heaven forever. He does ask for his believers to follow his commandments and his direction. Our salvation doesn’t depend on it but the joy of our walk with God does.

Luke 23: 39-43

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. ”

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”